Millions of people use Slack, the workplace messaging app, daily. The app makes it easy to communicate with colleagues and share files. Although Slack’s original aim may have been to enhance communication within the company, the app can also be useful for networking and job searching, including learning about industries, connecting with recruiters, making new connections, and finding job opportunities.
Slack Communities Are Gathering Places
Many social media platforms offer a way to gather with people who share similar interests. For example, you can join groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Communities are the counterpart option in Slack. There are many communities available, so there is a high likelihood you will find a community relevant to your industry or demographic category. For example, there’s the Design Hangout community, as well as the Women in Technology and Remote Work communities. In Resources for Humans, HR professionals come together to build relationships, share job opportunities, and chat about HR issues.
How to Find Communities in Slack
There is no single place where all Slack communities are listed, so you will need to search for communities that interest you. Try the following strategies:
- Search online: Use your favorite search engine to find communities. You can search for “Slack community for women” or “Slack community for sales,” and so on.
- Inquire: Ask your current network about any Slack communities they recommend. You can post your request on LinkedIn, Twitter, or ask it in Facebook groups or Reddit or any other networking platforms you’re involved in.
- Check databases: There are several databases and articles offering lists of communities. For example, you may check this list from Standuply or search by keyword on Slofile. To find more lists, search for “Slack community lists.”
Remember that these Slack communities may require an invitation or registration. Sometimes you may need to register and then wait for a little while for your request to be approved.
Once you’re in the community, you may find it very beneficial. “Being part of it exposes you to a whole network of viable professional relationships and a series of relevant topics and advice ready to leverage,” wrote Stephen McConnell, Sales and Marketing Director at Arielle Executive, a job consulting firm, in an email interview with The Balance.
How Slack Can Help You in Your Job Search
Slack communities can help you expand your network and potentially enhance your job search.
- Gaining industry knowledge: You can benefit from the discussions in the communities and their associated channels by following the conversation. What problems is this industry facing? What issues are people feeling concerned about or celebrating? Having an understanding of the industry’s pulse is helpful when answering interview questions about industry trends.
- Building your network: As is often the case, you get what you put in. Dedicate time to initiate and contribute to conversations. “Engaging with others in public Slack channels is the first step to networking in that space,” said McConnell. These types of conversations with like-minded people in your industry will create “a connection with them that leads to great career opportunities,” he said.
- Using the search feature: You can also perform searches within Slack and filter your results by type – messages, files, people, or channels. This will help you find conversations related to relevant topics.
- Setting up keyword alerts: In addition to searching, you can also set up alerts to notify you of conversations mentioning interests in your industry or signaling job opportunities in your field. To do this, select “Preferences” from within your profile, then add words or phrases under “My Keywords.” You will receive alerts only from channels in Slack that you are in.
- Searching
- About job openings: Once you’re in a group, check the available channels. Often, there will be a job-related channel where you can join to learn more about the posted positions.
- Engagement: Just joining a group won’t help you achieve your job search goals. If you want to connect, you need to be part of the conversation. If you want to learn more about your industry, you should read the conversation and click on the articles. Only through participation – whether talking with the community or reading – will you benefit from being in a group.
- Follow the group rules: Being a good digital citizen: Follow all the rules set by the group. These may include policies about being kind and limiting self-promotion, for example.
- Be cautious in choosing communities: Since there are communities aimed at job searching, seek them out. “If you are using Slack to search for a job, I recommend joining various Slack communities designed to connect recruiters with job seekers,” said Andrei Kourtov, co-founder and head of marketing at Novorésumé, an online resume builder, in an email interview with The Balance. “There are many of these communities where recruiters post job opportunities at different companies,” he noted.
- Don’t waste time: Slack can be an engaging activity, and notifications can make you spend a lot of time on the app. This can be beneficial if you’re gaining something useful from it. However, it can also become a time-waster, consuming hours that could be better spent applying for jobs, updating your resume, or meeting someone for personal or virtual networking.
Tips and Guidelines for Using Slack in Communicating and Searching for Your Job
Here are some tips and guidelines for using Slack in communicating and searching for your job:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Slack?
Slack is a digital messaging app that you can use on your laptop or phone to quickly communicate with other people directly or in public channels. You can also make video calls via Slack, send documents, and integrate Slack with other programs like Asana, and more.
What is a Slack channel?
A Slack channel is a public or private group conversation that allows you to send messages to a group of people at once to discuss something common, like a shared goal.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-use-slack-for-your-job-search-5675818
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